15 September 2009 - 13:00
Frankfurt show: Mini Roadster
A couple of weeks ago, Mini announced that two new model lines would be built at its Cowley factory.
One of them, we knew, would be the lightweight Coupe - the car with the backwards-baseball-cap styling - and now Mini has revealed the second: the Roadster.
It's essentially a soft-topped version of the Coupe, featuring the same steeply raked A-pillars and lower roofline. In place of the Coupe's floating roof, there's a manual canvas top which, when folded, is still visible just in front of the rear deck.
Unlike the 208bhp Coupe, the Roadster concept is powered by the 175bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine from the Cooper S, a decision that could be reflected in the production versions of the cars, expected to arrive in 2011.
Though Mini hasn't released performance figures for the Roadster, expect it to crack 60mph in around seven seconds. Prices should start at around £17,000. Would you take one over a Mazda MX-5?
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uuuuugly it looks life a fat child of car. the coupe was damned horrible do. the mini brand is being ruined
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I don't think I can see any self-respecting guys driving this car.
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i know obesity is a world wide pandemic right now,but i would've never thought it would get to the mini too..
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All this 2-Seat Roadster is, is admitting to us that the regular Mini Cabrio's rear seats are useless. I mean, surely this car's pointless? All they need to do is make the Cabrio a 2-seater, surely? Still, at least it's taken its godawful hat off...
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Wow, BMW are really killing the mini heritage. Its supposed to be a Mini, not a roadster.
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Wow, BMW are really killing the mini heritage. Its supposed to be a Mini, not a roadster.
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i actually generally love it. id still take a 500 over it though. but then i'd option it up to the point it would become one of those Abarth Ferrari 695 (the numbers are about there yes?) and then it would become an expensive rocket ship. pocket sized.
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Well this was freaking inevitable wasn't it? Canvas roof? Not a folding metal origami job - god they really are going for the retro fashion look with that aren't they. How ironic is it that this'll have a fabric roof and it'll be the tin-top that more closely resembles a baseball cap. Ultimately though I detest this sort of car. All fashion, no substance, and as girly as a tiny handbag. This or an MX-5? Please...I'd only just get away with an MX-5 as it is....maybe....
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So its a marginally lower cabrio?
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Afaque commented on this article
15 September 2009
Looks much better than the coupe! Still I doubt i'ld go for it...
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